650/X-2 Wood panel inserts set into fiberglass?

[Hepper]

So today, I stripped my new beat up 650sx of all the rails, trim, padding, ect. I plan to do some fiberglass work then some sort of unique paint graphic. That's when this gem popped in my head. Is it possible to fiberglass in a (3-4" wide 1/2" deep) channel running the length of the ski or where ever you wanted it? Then install some wood panels to fit in flush with the rest. Perhaps use some kind of transparent epoxy in the seems so the final product is all flush and clean. and then cover with clear coat. I'm probably dreaming big here considering a couple days ago was the first time I've seen a stand up ski up close and I've never done any fiberglass work but I just thought I'd throw it out there and see if someone more capable found it as intriguing as I. Something about taking old ugly things from the past and bringing them back is cool to me. Which is probably why my plan B is to go with a retro inspired stripe graphic.

 

[zzylstra]

Definately the first by me with that idea,, If you do this the end result would be epic!!!

 

[garretonufer]

There is special epoxy for table tops that is used for bars that you could use to seal the wood. the trick is cutting a section out of the hull and creating the channel to then insert your wood pieces.

my input to doing it would be have 2 sets of wood pieces, one for a template and the other for final product. cut out the section you want to insert the wood, wrap the wood in plastic wrap, tape it flush to the outside of the ski and then fiberglass on the inside. the plastic wrap will prevent the wood from adhering to the glass at this stage, but some of the plastic will, FYI. once done you can remove the tape and the wood for a perfect channel. seal the final wood insert and glue/screw into place from inside. done.

 

[Hepper]

Definately the first by me with that idea,, If you do this the end result would be epic!!!

lol didn't try to steal your idea haha... ive never done anything with fiberglass before but it seems pretty straight forward. I'm gonna patch up a couple cracks on my hull and if i feel comfortable enough i might try it... It would be sick to do it and then find an old jeep wagoneer badge or something...

 

[Big Kahuna]

Why not vinyl wrap that looks like wood? What your talking about is going to add weight to an already heavy ski.

 

[DarkWater]

Old school "woody whack" jetski!
I love the out of the box thinking!
I have to agree with the vinyl idea.

 

[Jp79]

I have to say it would look Sweet if you can pull it off. They make pre made pattern inlays as thin a 3mm so you will not have to take much glass away to do so. I would reinforce it from the back. I've seen snow boards done up with the visual wood and carbon together, great looking combo.

 

[swapmeet]

Either a wrap like the suggestion above or a thin laminate. Going 1/2" deep is way overkill if ou just want the look.

Btw, hydro turf made/makes a wood grain turf.

 

[D-Roc]

I made my top deck out of a mahogany log this past winter. Lol.

 

[Hepper]

That looks pretty spiffy D-Roc. I suppose 1/2" is much but maybe just enough for some of them laminate wood sheets that they use on the backs of cabnets and stuff.

 

[Mobile Chernobyl]

Get some 1/16" or thinner vernier and try and only inlay it on relatitive straight planes. They sell regular stuff than you can iron on (thermal activated adhesive) or you can just goop some epoxy on - but this will be harder to hold in place (takes a while to set up!).

The surfaces can have a curve - but only in 1 direction - if you try and cover anything with a convex or concave surface with vernier your in for a world of butthurt unless you have a good vacuum bagging system and a large heater!

I had considered this approach myself but decided it'd be easier to get my buddy who air brushes cars to try and paint a wood grain on lol.

 

[Hepper]

Get some 1/16" or thinner vernier and try and only inlay it on relatitive straight planes. They sell regular stuff than you can iron on (thermal activated adhesive) or you can just goop some epoxy on - but this will be harder to hold in place (takes a while to set up!).

The surfaces can have a curve - but only in 1 direction - if you try and cover anything with a convex or concave surface with vernier your in for a world of butthurt unless you have a good vacuum bagging system and a large heater!

I had considered this approach myself but decided it'd be easier to get my buddy who air brushes cars to try and paint a wood grain on lol.

That was the main reason I thought it might be better to use something like 1/2" or 3/8" because you can cut and sand and tweak the shape that you want. Not possible with 1/16" vernier or laminate. It would still need to be a mostly straight plane but it would be a little more forgiving. And if you did shave that much off it would probly be only about a 1/4" thick. The wood grain would look more like the hull was carved out of wood rather than paneling too, which I guess might look cool.

 

[garretonufer]

the nice thing with the vernier or laminate is that if you steam/heat it you can get a nice curve out of it without sanding trimming but as stated, you're only going to get a gradual curve which is probably all you'd want with respect to the shape of the ski.

do it, lets see how it turns out.
if it is only a 1/16 or something, you can take a router and just carve out the area rather than having to cut out an entire section and reshape/reglass the structure.

 

[tomski]

The "woody" ski. (paint)

The fabric is used for visual lay up or overlays.

 

[Hepper]

the nice thing with the vernier or laminate is that if you steam/heat it you can get a nice curve out of it without sanding trimming but as stated, you're only going to get a gradual curve which is probably all you'd want with respect to the shape of the ski.

do it, lets see how it turns out.
if it is only a 1/16 or something, you can take a router and just carve out the area rather than having to cut out an entire section and reshape/reglass the structure.

I kinda want to but, I think I will another day to another ski. I'm not real confident in my skills nor this hull, so I'm not going to spend a lot of time and effort, unless I'm sure of what I'm doing.... Plus I have a cool paint graphic in mind...